Remembering Ama Ata Aidoo, Ghana’s iconic author
The late Ama Ata Aidoo was by all standards a towering figure in Ghanaian and African literature. As a Ghanaian author, poet, playwright, politician, and academic, she lived a life deeply rooted in the powerful blend of tradition, intellect, and unapologetic pan-Africanism.
Born on March 23, 1942 in the quiet village of Abeadzi Kyiakor, near Saltpond in the Central Region of Ghana, her story is inspirational—the journey of a woman who defied the odds to become a celebrated voice for African women worldwide.
From an early age, she was surrounded by stories—tales of her ancestors, of Ghana’s history, and of a proud Fanti heritage. Her father, a progressive chief, built a school in their village, instilling in young Ama a deep love for education and the belief that knowledge is the most powerful tool for liberation.
At the time, she was unaware that she would go on to liberate the minds and spirits of countless African women through her writings. In 1957, Aidoo attended the prestigious Wesley Girls’ Senior High School in Cape Coast. After high school, she enrolled in the University of Ghana, Legon, where she obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts in English.
Pan-Africanism through writing
She wrote her first play, “The Dilemma of a Ghost,” in 1964. The outstanding play boldly explored the clash of African and Western cultures through an interracial marriage. The daring work immediately set her apart as a literary revolutionary.
Her words were more than stories; they were a mirror reflecting the struggles and triumphs of postcolonial Africa, especially the African woman, whose voice had too often been silenced or overlooked. Aidoo was determined to change that.
Through novels like “Our Sister Killjoy and Changes: A Love Story,” she gave life to female characters who were not confined by societal expectations. They were bold, complex, and unafraid to challenge the status quo—much like Aidoo herself. She strongly believed that African women had stories worth telling, and she told them with a fierce authenticity that appealed to readers across the globe.
Before her death, Aidoo always made public her powerful criticism of colonialism and the ongoing exploitation of Africa’s resources. A 2012 interview video of her went viral in 2020 when Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy included an extract from it in his song “Monsters You Made.” Her powerful words rejuvenated the continued struggles and injustices faced by many African nations and communities.
“Since we met you people 500 years ago. Look at us; we’ve given everything. You are still taking. In exchange for that, we have got nothing. Nothing. And you know it. But don’t you think that this is over now? Over where? Is it over?” she said.
Aidoo was a powerful influence on the generation of writers after her, including Nigeria’s awarding-winning Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who had described herself as “stunned by the believability of her [Aidoo’s] characters,” as published in a 2011 piece by The Africa Report.
“When I first discovered Ama Ata Aidoo’s work – a slim book on a dusty shelf in our neighbour’s study in Nsukka [in south-eastern Nigeria] – I was stunned by the believability of her characters, the sureness of her touch and what I like to call, in a rather clunky phrase, the validating presence of complex femaleness,” said Adichie.
“Because I had not often seen this complex femaleness in other African books I had read and loved, mine was a wondrous discovery: of Anowa, tragic and humane and many dimensional, in Aidoo’s play set in the 1800s in Fantiland; of Sissie, the self-assured, perceptive main character of the ambitious novel Our Sister Killjoy, who wryly recounts her experiences in Germany and England in the 1960s; or of the varied female characters in No Sweetness Here, my favourite of Aidoo’s books,” added Adichie.
Her activism wasn’t limited to writing
She was the Minister of Education under the Jerry Rawlings’ PNDC administration from 1982 to 1983. As a Minister Aidoo worked tirelessly to shape policies that centered on African values and ensured education was accessible to all, especially girls.
Her commitment to education was rooted in her belief that it was essential for empowering the youth and promoting equal opportunities. However, her vision for free education was not realized, and she eventually resigned after 18 months, citing the government’s lack of seriousness and compromise with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
She believed that educating women was key to transforming African societies, and her work as a stateswoman mirrored the themes of empowerment that filled her novels and plays.
Her stories dismantled stereotypes and uplifted the dignity and power of the African woman, always urging her readers to look beyond the surface and embrace the depth of womanhood. Sadly, Aidoo passed away on May 31, 2023. Her legacy was the one of brilliance, compassion, and unwavering courage.
Her recognitions
Aidoo’s literary talent was evident from an early age, as she won the Mbari Club prize in 1962 for her short story “No Sweetness Here.” This recognition helped establish her as a rising star in African literature.
Her remarkable career was marked by numerous recognitions and accolades. One of her most notable achievements is winning the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize in 1992 for her novel “Changes: A Love Story”.
Aidoo’s academic achievements have also been recognized through various fellowships and professorships. She held a fellowship in creative writing at Stanford University and was a visiting professor at Brown University from 2004 to 2011.
In 2012, a volume of essays titled “Essays in honour of Ama Ata Aidoo at 70” was published in her honour, featuring contributions from renowned scholars and writers. The tribute showed Aidoo’s enduring influence on African literature and her commitment to promoting women’s writing.
In 2016, the Women’s Caucus of the African Studies Association named the “Aidoo-Snyder Book Prize” in honour of Ama Ata Aidoo and Margaret C. Snyder. A year later, the Ama Ata Aidoo Centre for Creative Writing was established in 2017 at the African University College of Communications in Accra, Ghana, in recognition of her contributions to African literature and creative writing.
Aidoo’s life was a memorial to the power of how words can change hearts, and entire societies. Not only that, but her voice, bold and unapologetic, continues to echo in the hearts of those who dream of a more just, equal, and vibrant Africa—one where women stand tall, unafraid, and proud of their heritage.
Written by Kweku Sampson, Edited by Abeeb Lekan Sodiq.
This article is published by either a staff writer, an intern, or an editor of TheAfricanDream.net, based on editorial discretion.
